Health · Mental Health · 2 hrs ago
Experts answer questions about the manosphere and its influence on young men
The manosphere is a loose network of online communities that discuss issues such as dating, fitness and fatherhood.
Some of these communities also promote harmful attitudes about women and relationships.
A panel including a developmental paediatrician and experts from Movember and Our Watch is answering public questions about the topic.
Advocates say social media recommendation systems can direct young men and boys towards misogynistic content.
The Australian government has committed to legislation that would let users choose whether to use algorithms in their feeds.
The legislation is expected to be introduced to parliament this week.
Advocates want its details to give people more control over what appears in their feeds.
ABC Australia convened a panel of experts to answer questions about the manosphere and its influence on young men.
The panel included developmental paediatrician Dr Billy Garvey, Dr Zac Seidler from Movember and Genevieve Sheppard from Our Watch.
The discussion addressed concerns about messages on masculinity, relationships and young men’s place in the world.
Advocate Chanel Contos said social media recommendation algorithms can expose young men to misogynistic content and contribute to real-world harm.
The federal government committed to the #FixOurFeeds campaign as part of Digital Duty of Care legislation, which was expected to be introduced into parliament that week.
- Who
- ABC Australia and a panel including Dr Billy Garvey, Dr Zac Seidler and Genevieve Sheppard.
- What
- Experts answered questions about the manosphere and its influence on young men.
- When
- 13 October 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- The discussion addressed concerns about the manosphere’s messages to teenage boys and men about masculinity, relationships and their place in the world.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The federal government announced it would introduce laws giving social media users the option to opt in or out of feed algorithms.
The government committed to the #FixOurFeeds campaign as part of Digital Duty of Care legislation.
ABC Australia held a live discussion with experts and invited readers to submit questions about the manosphere.
The legislation was expected to be introduced into parliament.
- Panel
- Dr Billy Garvey, Dr Zac Seidler and Genevieve Sheppard
- Campaign
- #FixOurFeeds
- Legislation
- Digital Duty of Care
- Open letter
- 15,000 Australians signed a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
- Publication date
- 13 October 2026
What people are saying
Social media algorithms are increasingly flooding young men's feeds with radical misogynistic content.
This is inciting and worsening real-world harm, particularly towards women and girls.
This commitment to allow Australians to turn their algorithms on and off will give people control back over their own data and feeds and disrupt how easily recommendation algorithm systems feed young men and boys manosphere content.
Sources
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